Council gives itself a raise

Salaries up an average of 25 per cent

Civic politicians gave themselves a pay raise of 25 per cent Monday despite the insistence of one councillor it’s the wrong time.

Approved in a 8-1 vote, it’s the first significant increase for Richmond’s mayor and eight councillors since 1992 that will cost taxpayers $82,351 annually.

Effective June 29, the mayor’s salary will rise 15 per cent, from $80,082 to $92,025, and councillors’ salaries will jump 28 per cent, from $32,033 to $40,834. The job of mayor is full-time, while councillors are considered part-time.

Council expressed reluctance to tackle the issue, including Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt, who works part-time at Vancouver General Hospital. She said the only formal job evaluation she’s had as a councillor is at the polls.

“Is the job worth the salary attached to it? Yes. Am I? That’s up to the public to decide in three years time.”

But Coun. Bill McNulty, who has a full-time job as a high school counsellor, said council is sending the wrong message to the public.

“It’s not appropriate at this time, obviously,” he said in an interview following Monday’s vote. “It’s not the right time to take it with the uncertainties that are happening with the oval and with all the projects we’ve got.

“We need to show leadership and restraint in times as where we are.”

When asked whether or not he’ll accept his raise, McNulty said he hasn’t given that any thought.

“I will abide by council’s decision and what I will do after that I haven’t given it any more thought at the moment. I was hoping there would be other alternatives.”

Coun. Linda Barnes joined McNulty in opposition of only the effective date of the increase.

Barnes, who is taking early retirement from her part-time job as a career advisor with the Richmond School District to spend more time on her duties as councillor, suggested the raise should have been spread out throughout the current council term.

“Not that I don’t think the salary is appropriate, but I think it should have been phased in over a longer period of time. It’s a lot, right up front.”

An outside panel suggested the salary increases after council agreed last week with a staff recommendation to undertake a review and comparison with other municipalities.

Chaired by compensation consultant Maurice Lamb, the panel also comprised Geoff Chutter, president of Whitewater West Industries Ltd., John Collison, president of John Collison and Associates Ltd., Howard Harowitz, vice-president of MICA consulting partners and Gail Terry, general manager of the Richmond Auto Mall.

Responding to McNulty, Mayor Malcolm Brodie doubted there would ever be a right time for council to give itself a raise.

“At all times we have to be fair to the public, but occasionally we have to be fair to ourselves too.”

Brodie, who gave up a lucrative law practice after he took the job as mayor, said he isn’t motivated by money.

“I never once regretted (giving up my practice). If I were motivated by the money I would have stayed in it.”

The panel used the cities of Burnaby and Surrey as chief comparisons, as the two were most closely matched in population and budgets.

With Brodie’s new salary, he now earns $2,284 more than Burnaby’s mayor and $7,062 less than Surrey’s. Local councillors earn $949 more than in Burnaby and $9,300 less than in Surrey.

The panel chair concluded Richmond’s civic politicians are underpaid.

“Most of you are working full-time at your positions, most of you bring considerable expertise,” said Lamb. “You look at the level of work that you do you’re certainly putting a lot in for what you get.”

Salaries will continue to be increased annually based on inflation. Council also voted to approve a market review every three years.

Politicians were also given two new benefits to match those of city managers: long-term disability and access to the city’s employee and family assistance program.

They will also continue to accrue 9.2 per cent of their salaries as a retirement allowance—paid out upon retirement, death or failure to retain office—collect a travel allowance of 50¢ per kilometre and bill the city for expenses.

Coun. Cynthia Chen, the only new councillor to be elected last November, conceded the timing of the raise isn’t right, but “something has to be done.”

“I was really surprised we were so out of whack (with other municipalities).”

Other municipalities the panel used as comparisons: Abbotsford, $72,500 for mayor and $24,167 for councillor; Delta, $82,692 for mayor and $31,446 for councillor; and Coquitlam $104,156 for mayor and $37,653 for councillor.